Esther and the Moon

Purim and the mystery of Esther's non-Jewish name.

The name Esther comes from the Aramaic word sihara meaning moon. The Talmudsays that the nations of the world called the heroine of Purim by the name Esther since she was as beautiful as the moon (Megilla 13a). There are many ways to describe beauty. Why is Esther compared specifically to the moon?

Furthermore, Rabbi Yonasan Eybeshitz asks what significance there is in specifically the non-Jewish nations comparing Esther to the moon. We accept the name to the extent that we too call her Esther and use the same name for the Megillah even though her real name was Hadassa. Why is the nations' impression of Esther relevant to us? (Yaaros Dvash 2:17).

Lunar and Solar Calendars

To understand the significance of the moon, it is helpful to explain the prominence of the moon generally in Jewish thought, and specifically in the context of the calendar which is based on the moon. The first commandmentin the Torah is "hachodesh hazeh lachem," literally “this month is yours,” which is the Torah’s commandment to establish the Jewish lunar calendar. (Exodus 12:2). The word chodesh meaning month is derived from the Hebrew word chadash meaning new. Unlike the solar calendar which is connected to the earth’s annual orbit around the sun, the lunar calendar is based on the waxing and waning moon. From our perspective, the moon is reborn every single month; it waxes until it is completely full and then wanes into oblivion, while the sun is consistently present. The lunar system is replete with renewal and leaves room for providence, something that is impossible in a system strictly based on cause and effect.

The moon is reborn every month, but “there is nothing new under the sun.”

In contrast, the sun represents a system of time which has no observable beginning or end. The adage “there is nothing new under the sun” is a verse from Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 1:9). It describes a realm of time which has no observable beginning or end, and which does not seem to lead to a particular destination. The Talmud associates the non-Jewish nations’ system of time with the sun, (Sukkah 29a), and the Julian calendar in common use today is based on the sun.

Reflection

A return to the story of creation provides us with an insight into what the sun and the moon represent on a deeper level. The kabbalists explain that God created the world to receive His light which conveys the ultimate good. However, the physical world was not positioned to fully receive that light. The world therefore failed to develop into the material manifestation of the spiritual realm possible had it been properly received.

The world’s failure to be a proper receiver has a celestial parallel. The Torah tells us that God originally created the two great luminaries. Yet it immediately proceeds to describe the moon, as the small luminary, and the sun as the great luminary (Genesis 1:16). Rashi explains that they were indeed created equal, but the moon complained that there was no room for two large luminaries and God told the moon to shrink itself. (Rashi, Ibid.)

The moonessentially reflects the light of the sun, and even before it shrank, its purpose was solely to reflect. The Hebrew word for moon is levana, which comes from the word lavan, white. White reflects all the colors of the visual light spectrum and is the ultimate symbol of reflection. However, while the original moon could have reflected all of the sun’s light, the diminished moon had no such capacity and the distinction between night and day resulted in the stark difference between the two that we witness today.

Purim

With this background, we can return to Esther and the source of her name. Esther is so called on account of the moon. A closer look at the entire story of Purim shows that it expresses the very message of the union of the sun and moon.

The story of Purim unfolded through what appeared to be a very natural series of events. No sea split and no plagues fell upon the house of Achashveirosh or Haman. Instead, through a dramatic plot replete with paranoia, politics, lust, and greed, Esther rose to power through the most unlikely circumstances and eventually induced the king to reverse his decree to kill the Jewish people.

Yet on a deeper level, there was nothing natural about Purim. As the Zohar notes, the term melech, king, in the Megillah is a disguised allusion to God (Zohar III p. 109a). A reread of the Megillah with that insight reveals God behind every turn of events, and the entire miracle which saved us.

All things in the world, even events that seem unrelated, march toward a higher goal.

The story of Purim represents the fusion of two systems. Externally, it is a world entirely under the sun with apparently natural rules of cause and effect that plod on without direction. It is the system in which the nations live, that of history, science and secular progress. Yet behind the scenes, every aspect of Purim is the product of God’s hidden providence, an expression of hachodesh hazeh lachem ― “this month is yours,” a spiritual system of complete novelty positioned to bring us to a specific destiny. Like the moon, it is hidden.

Purim reveals that in the end there is no real dichotomy between the lunar and solar systems of time. All things in the world, even events that seem to have no relation to anything beyond themselves, are part of a march toward a higher goal.

Bridging the Gap

Purim, therefore, bridges the gap between everything under the sun, and time measured by the moon. Esther is named after the moon specifically because the non-Jewish nations called her so. On a deeper level, they understood that the events of Purim which stemmed from Esther were the hidden system of providence represented by the moon, even though they were revealed in a way that appeared under the sun. On Purim, the nations saw God’s hand in the story of Purim, and the Megillah says that many even converted to Judaism (Esther 8:17). The nations of the world observed this and associated the person who externally brought them about with the moon. That observation was accurate and the Jewish people properly adopted the name.

On a deeper level, the entire month expresses the connection between the sun and the moon. While our calendar is based on the moon, the festivals must fall during specific seasons which are governed by the solar year. We synchronize the lunar and solar years by occasionally (six times during a nineteen year cycle) adding an additional month. The month added to bridge the gap between sun and moon is a second Adar, the month of Purim.

Purim is uniquely associated with the end of time and our Sages say that it is the only holiday which we will celebrate forever (Midrash Rabba - Mishei 9). Today’s world abounds with innovation and revolution, bringing political changes which were considered almost impossible even just a few months ago. Those events of a world under the sun seem to have little connection to us. Purim, however, reveals that somehow all of history is part of a plan and all roads bring us to the destiny God chooses.

About the Author

Rabbi Doniel Baron is a senior lecturer at Aish HaTorah's Discovery Seminar. He received his law degree from NYU School of Law and practiced law at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. He presently lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 7

(7)
T Mendlowitz,
March 13, 2014 11:49 AM

You state that:" The month added to bridge the gap between sun and moon is a second Adar, the month of Purim."

The month added is the First Adar, so that Pesach will fall in the springtime.

Thank you for a very thought provoking article.

Tallulah Mendlowitz

(6)
Scott Edelman,
December 29, 2011 6:05 AM

Hidden

Excellent article! From what I was taught at Aish there is more - The root of the word Esther in Hebrew means "hidden". The Book of Esther is the only book in the Tanach which does not mention G-d. G-d hid His presence from us after the destruction of the 1st Temple, although it is quite clear G-d is pulling all the strings in the Purim story. "﻿Where is Esther indicated in the Torah? Deut. XXXI, 18. And I will surely hide [asthir] My face on that day." ﻿Talmud Chullin 139b,...The Aish article "Hidden Miracles" tells us more on this.

(5)
Louise Doan,
April 7, 2011 4:09 AM

came across my path

I find it interesting that this excellent article, came across my path just as I was writing on God's structure in using the moon and darkness. Shalom and blessings from ND.

(4)
Jason,
March 21, 2011 3:24 AM

Super Moon

Amazing that this year in 2011 the "Super Moon" the apogee of the moon closest to the Earth, took place on Purim. Surely this is no mere coincidence in Hashem's universe. Queen Esther, represented by the moon, is still a reality for us today - and we all must work to tap into the truth of God's infinite miracles that we each can percieve in our everyday lives.

(3)
Pauline,
March 20, 2011 9:16 PM

Very deep commentary; here's my simple first thought.

About her name and the moon.
The glow or beauty of the moon is most bright when it is most dark (night-time). Esther was a bright, beautiful, light, that was best seen when it was darkest for all us Jews. Her glow (shining light) was seen before this event, it seems, but more so after the darkness (of seemingly certain mass slaughter) arrived, and was eliminated.

(2)
miriamwcohen,
March 16, 2011 2:43 PM

confusing name

I had learned that Esther is a form of the name Astarte, one of the female pagan gods, the moon goddess. where did this definitioin come from?

(1)
ruth housman,
March 14, 2011 1:31 PM

Moon Light and Roses: Purim

Thank You for this beautiful commentary. Yesterday for me, in diverse ways, as recorded in my diary, it was entirely about the Moon, including the Magical Moon Foundation down the road, which does bring magic to children with cancer.
The article by Rabbi Blech is a reflection of what you have written here, in this most luminous article.
I am seeing vast connects across the universe, that do bring us to Esther, the Moon, and for esther the name, is also the clarity of reverb with aster, which is for Star. These are the asters in my garden. One day I hope to have a garden that glows in the moonlight. Last night I left the outside light on, inadvertently, and the nascent bulbs, the land, glowed, in that light. And as bulbs are underground and emergent in spring, so is a story, that is deeply about the Purity of Purim, a story that only G_d could have written.